Average Feeding Expenses

[MsLadyChickens]

Hi everyone!


We are planning to buy two milking does sometime this spring/summer and are very excited!

We're updating our budget and I was wondering what the average milking doe (Nigerian Dwarf) costs to feed per year/month. I've read anywhere from $60-$100 per goat per month.

I know the Nigerian Dwarfs eat less so I was curious if it was far off from the expenses of other goats. Sorry if there is already a similar post! Thank you guys so much!

 

[SheepGirl]

The average adult weight of a Nigerian Dwarf is about 75 lbs.

A goat will eat about 3.0% of its body weight in hay every day during maintenance (not gestating, not lactating). A doe or buck that's not breeding, bred, or milking will need about 2-1/4 lbs of hay per day - not including waste. Hay here costs $0.14 per pound, so a Nigerian Dwarf in maintenance will eat about $0.32 in hay per day (again, not including waste).

During early gestation, a goat will eat roughly the same amount, but no more than half a pound of hay more per day.

During late gestation is when nutrient requirements increase and it will cost more per day to feed. Lactation (milking) is when there is the greatest nutritional stress on a doe, so she will require the most feed.

Also--when you're budgeting, don't forget to include milk and feed for the kids.

 

[SheepGirl]

Also, if you maximize your use of pasture (if available) it will save you considerable amounts of money.

 

[capretta]

Yay! You'll love your Nigerians, I love my girls.

There's a lot of factors that change things here. In the spring/summer my feed bills are around $30-40 a lactating doe per month, because they can graze.
However, in winter and early spring, my feed bills go up to about $30-50 per doe, because I'm giving them more grain to stay warm, and giving them hay too.

It also depends on what you plan to feed your does. I give mine standard IFA (brand name) Doe feed. Pretty typical, and about middle-of-the-road for feed in my area. That's another factor as well, where I live feed runs pretty cheap, so check around all your local mills and suppliers to make sure your not paying too much.

Hope that helps!